Whilst horses can mate perfectly successfully in the wild, human assisted horse breeding is used to produce foals with certain genetic characteristics. Horse breeding is a big responsibility and there are a number of factors that are important to take into account when thinking of breeding horses.

This article is intended to provide information on the key issues associated with horse breeding that you should make yourself aware of before committing to breeding.

Deciding if horse breeding is right for you

The decision to breed horses is one that should be seriously considered before investing the significant amount of time and money necessary to successfully breed. When deciding if horse breeding is for you, bear in mind the following factors:

• For what purpose do you want to breed horses?
• If breeding for economic benefit, what is the anticipated value of the foal, sire or dam?
• Generally, you should aim to sell a foal for 3 times the cost of the stud fee (if sold immediately after its birth, after which, the price should rise accordingly with the cost of care)
• Does the sire have genetic qualities considered worthwhile to carry on the line?
• Do you have the experience to care for the both the pregnant mare and foal once born?
• Is the mare in good enough health to withstand pregnancy?

It can be difficult to make money breeding horses. If you would like to try and make a profit this way, it is necessary to be realistic about the state of the market, and whether you believe it to be achievable. Unless you are an experienced breeder, it is highly possible that you will make a loss selling your foal, rather than a profit.

What is the best time of year to breed horses?

A mare's estrous (or 'heat') cycle lasts around 21 days and generally occurs during the spring and summer months. During this time, the mare will be sexually receptive towards a stallion and prepared physically to conceive.

A mare will signal her ovulation to a stallion, who will then act to determine whether she is ready to mate.

The mare's gestation period lasts for about 11 months (340 days), although any time between 320 and 370 days is normal. The fetus develops most significantly during the final three months of the pregnancy.

Caring for a pregnant mare

Once pregnant, it is important to provide the mare with the necessary treatment to ensure both her health and that of the foal.

It is advisable that the mare should:

• be given vaccinations against diseases, including Rhinopneumonitis (EHV-1) which can cause abortions
• be de-wormed a few weeks prior to foaling
• be exercised moderately throughout the pregnancy
• be given extra nutritional supplements, including copper (for skeletal formation), increased protein, vitamins and minerals, in the last 3-4 months of pregnancy

The financial implications of horse breeding

There are numerous costs that must be considered when deciding whether horse breeding is for you. These costs could include:

• exams of the mare to ascertain her suitability for pregnancy
• veterinary bills to ensure the health of the pregnant mare, possible bills if anything were to go wrong, and the cost of the foal’s first exam following its birth
• the stud and booking fees
• the transport, care and board fees if your mare is being bred live cover at the stallion’s residence